The Kaneland boys basketball is seeking a second consecutive conference championship.

But visiting DeKalb, which had not won this calendar year, truly upset the apple cart for the Knights repeat bid in the Northern Illinois Big XII East Friday night.

The Barbs hit 8 of 14 third-quarter shots, more than doubling their first-half output in the process, and never relinquished an 8-point lead to start the final quarter in denying the Knights 50-45 in Maple Park.

Kaneland had a pair of possessions in the final minute to possibly force overtime  or even win with a 3-pointer  but the Barbs Jake Carpenter and Rudy Lopez collaborated on an out-of-bounds play with 10 seconds to play to seal the victory.

Thats the best four quarters of basketball we have played the whole season, DeKalb coach David Rohlman said. We didnt win (a game) the whole month of January. We havent won since the 28th of December. (But) we didnt point any fingers (tonight), which you tend to do when youre 4-20.

Kaneland (13-8, 6-2), pending the Sycamore outcome, maintains a one-game lead with two to play in the conference.

The Barbs (5-20, 3-5) were able to maintain the lead throughout the fourth quarter, but not before the Knights Dan Miller made several key plays.

The senior not only led all players with 17 points; Miller also made it a one-possession game on three separate occasions in the last 3:44 as he scored the final 6 points for Kaneland.

It was very frustrating, Miller said. It seemed like we would cut (the Barbs lead) to two points, and they would get a basket (on their ensuing possession).

Lopez and Carpenter each made clutch field goals for DeKalb after Miller personally reduced its lead to 43-41 and 45-43 in the waning moments.

Kaneland had a chance to tie the game in the final half-minute, but its driving attempt misfired.

Andre Harris split free throws with 13.1 seconds remaining upped the Barbs spread to 48-45, but, after Kaneland rebounded the second attempt, the ball was returned to DeKalb when a trapped Knight stepped on the baseline.

It could not have been a more inglorious start for the Knights.

The first quarter was a nightmare for both teams as DeKalb took the football-like score of 7-3 after the opening eight minutes.

The two teams were a combined 3-for-20 to start the game.

We couldnt make shots, Kaneland coach Brian Johnson said. Thats the story for us the entire game. We were getting good looks. We just have to fight hard for all of our baskets.

The other primary issue for Kaneland was its two-sided offensive attack.

Miller and John Pruett (16 points) combined to score 33 of the Knights 45 points; the other six players to see action were a combined 5-for-28 in the game.

We were running our plays (in the first half, which ended with Kaneland nursing a 17-16 lead), but we couldnt put the ball in the basket, Miller said.